IN VIVO MICROCT IMAGING AND ANALYSIS SYSTEM FOR RODENTS: ORAL & COLON CANCER

该子项目是利用由NIH/NCRR资助的共享仪器补助金提供的资源的众多研究子项目之一。子项目和研究者（PI）可能已经从另一个NIH来源获得了主要资金，因此可以在其他CRISP条目中表示。列出的机构是资助机构，不一定是研究者的机构。描述（由申请人提供）：本申请旨在获得资金，用于购买康涅狄格大学健康中心用于啮齿动物模型的高分辨率体内微计算机断层扫描（microCT）成像系统。Scanco VivaCT40仪器将成为活跃的MicroCT设备的一部分。核心设施为医学院和牙科医学院的几个部门的研究人员提供服务，主要研究重点是骨生物学，每年NIH资助650万美元。该设施还为耶鲁大学和宾夕法尼亚大学的研究人员提供核心服务。尽管我们目前的微ct成像能力已被证明对大量研究人员有益，但它仅限于对切除组织样本的分析，排除了纵向研究，并且需要在多个时间点进行大量动物分析。体内微ct成像和分析将有助于转基因小鼠模型的研究，允许在成熟和衰老过程中对骨骼元素进行表型定量。同样，目前涉及器官、肿瘤和血管结构的对比增强成像的研究，将大大受益于高分辨率体内CT成像和对比剂实时灌注的能力。由于对切除组织结构的离体微ct成像和形态计量学分析是非破坏性的和快速的，我们现有的系统将继续为组织形态计量学检查、基因表达分析和机械完整性测试的标本收集提供必要的数据。此外，由于体内和离体系统的分辨率相等，分析软件相同，用于操作仪器的Alphastations可以聚集在一起。由此产生的计算能力的提高将使我们能够以最高的分辨率进行扫描。与公众健康相关：将使用该仪器的研究人员已经开发了小鼠模型，这些模型与我们对骨质流失与衰老、雌激素缺乏和固定的机制的理解高度相关。体内微ct系统所获得的结果的质量和数量的提高，将使开发维护骨骼健康和更快地治疗骨病的新方法成为可能。卫生局局长关于“骨骼健康和骨质疏松症”的报告认为这是一个关键问题。

This subproject is one of many research subprojects utilizing the resources provided by a Shared Instrumentation Grant funded by NIH/NCRR. The subproject and investigator (PI) may have received primary funding from another NIH source, and thus could be represented in other CRISP entries. The institution listed is for the grant, which is not necessarily the institution for the investigator. DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant): This application is to obtain funding for the purchase of a high resolution in vivo micro-computed tomography (microCT) imaging system for use with rodent models at the University of Connecticut Health Center. This instrument, the Scanco VivaCT40, will become part of an active MicroCT Facility. The core facility provides services to investigators from several departments within the Schools of Medicine and Dental Medicine, with a primary research emphasis in bone biology and combined annual NIH funding of $6.5 million. The facility also provides core services to investigators from Yale University and the University of Pennsylvania. Although our present microCT imaging capability has proven to be beneficial to a large number of investigators, it is limited to analysis of excised tissue samples, precluding longitudinal studies and requiring large numbers of animals for analysis at multiple time points. In vivo microCT imaging and analysis will be helpful in studies involving transgenic mouse models, allowing phenotypic quantitation of skeletal elements during maturation and aging. Likewise, current studies involving contrast-enhanced imaging of organs, tumors, and vascular structures will benefit greatly with the capability of high-resolution in vivo CT imaging and real-time perfusion of contrast media. Because ex vivo microCT imaging and morphometric analysis of excised tissue structures is nondestructive and rapid, our existing system will continue to provide essential data from specimens harvested for histomorphometric examination, gene expression assays, and mechanical integrity tests. Moreover, because the resolution of the in vivo and ex vivo systems are equivalent and analysis software identical, the Alphastations used to operate the instruments can be clustered together. The resulting increase in computational capacity will allow us to scan at the highest resolution available. Relevance to public health: The investigators who will use this instrument have developed murine models that are highly relevant to our understanding of the mechanisms of bone loss with aging, estrogen deficiency, and immobilization. The increase in the quality and quantity of results that will be obtained with an in vivo microCT system will make it possible to develop new approaches to the maintenance of bone health and treatment of bone disease more rapidly. This has been recognized as a critical issue by the Surgeon General's Report on "Bone Health and Osteoporosis".